Water distribution system with dual use water treatment unit

ABSTRACT

A water distribution system including a water storage tank, a water treatment unit, a diverter valve, and interconnecting water conduits arranged so that the same water treatment unit can be used to treat water supplied from a fill port to the storage tank during a fill operation, as well as water leaving the storage tank for supply to one or more points of water use during a supply operation. A diverter valve is provided which is movable between a fill position wherein the water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the fill port and not the point of water use device, and a supply position wherein the water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the at least one point of water use device and not the fill port. When the diverter valve is in the fill position, water supplied to the fill port can thus flow through the diverter valve and to the water treatment unit for treatment then to the storage tank for storage. When the diverter valve is in the supply position, the water from the storage tank can be delivered using means for pressurizing water to the same treatment unit for treatment, then through the diverter valve and to the at least one point of water use device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a water distribution system, and inparticular to a water distribution system having a dual use watertreatment unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water treatment units (WTUs) for the purification of potable water onaircraft or other vehicles have been known for years. For example,International Water-Guard Industries Inc. provides different models offlight-certified water treatment units for aircraft applications.Certain known WTUs employ ultraviolet (UV) lamps that inactivatemicro-organisms including pathogens by irradiation with UV light in thegermicidal wavelength range. This process is customarily referred to asUV disinfection. The WTUs sometimes are also supplied with eithersediment or activated carbon filters for the removal of fine particulatematter or dissolved chlorine or organic matter to improve the taste ofthe water.

In known aircraft water treatment systems, WTUs are generally installedin one of two locations on an aircraft. They may be installed at theexit of a potable water storage tank so that all the water deliveredfrom the tank to aircraft points of use is disinfected, whether thewater is delivered under pressure to points of use on demand or water iscirculating continuously. Alternatively, WTUs may be installed atselected points of use on the aircraft, such as galleys where food andbeverages are prepared or for VIP showers.

Aircraft manufacturers or aircraft completion centers have inquiredabout treating water as it is being uploaded onto the aircraft on theground. Proposed solutions have included integrating additional WTUsinto the aircraft potable water fill system. These proposals are notoptimal due to the additional cost of WTUs that would be used during thefill operation, and the weight and complexity of the WTUs should they beinstalled on the aircraft. Another drawback is that past proposals forWTUs to be used for fill operations are installed further from the pointof water use and thus are generally regarded as providing lessprotection to human health since there is more opportunity forcontamination downstream of the treatment units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the invention to provide a solution to at leastsome of the known problems in the prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a waterdistribution system comprising a water storage tank, water conduits, aprimary water treatment unit, a diverter valve, and means forpressurizing water in fluid communication with the storage tank. Thewater conduits fluidly couple a fill port to the diverter valve, fluidlycouple the diverter valve to the primary water treatment unit, fluidlycouples the primary water treatment unit to the storage tank, andfluidly couples the diverter valve to at least one point of water usedevice. The diverter valve is movable between a fill position whereinthe primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the fillport and not the point of water use device, and a supply positionwherein the primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication withthe at least one point of water use device and not the fill port. Theprimary water treatment unit can comprise an ultraviolet lamp module,and can further comprise an activated carbon or sediment or other typeof filter module.

The system can further include a four port fill valve and a water drainconduit fluidly coupling the storage tank to the fill valve. The fillvalve has two bores and is movable between a fill position wherein afirst bore is in fluid communication with the water conduit fluidlycoupling the fill port to the diverter valve and a second bore is influid communication with a drain port and the storage tank via the drainconduit, and a supply position wherein the fill and drain ports are notin fluid communication with the system. The fill valve can be caused tochange position in a number of ways. An example would be to be motorizedand electrically communicative with a selector switch or a programmablecontroller.

Alternatively, the fill valve can be a four port manual valveconnectable to a push-pull cable coupled to a mechanical switch.

The means for pressurizing water can be a pump. In such case, the systemcan further comprise an isolation valve fluidly coupled to the fluidconduit fluidly coupling the primary water treatment unit to the storagetank. The isolation valve is movable between a fill position in whichfluid is flowable through the isolation valve, and a supply position inwhich water is not flowable through the isolation valve. Also, the waterconduits can further comprise a water conduit having a one way valve andfluidly coupling the pump to the primary water treatment unit. The oneway valve is positioned to allow fluid to flow from the pump to theprimary water treatment unit only, such that when the diverter valve andisolation valve are in the supply position the pump is operable to flowwater from the storage tank through the primary water treatment unit andto the at least one point of use device. The isolation valve can bemotorized and electrically communicative with a selector switch or aprogrammable controller. Alternatively, the isolation valve can be amanual or solenoid operated valve.

The diverter valve can be a single three port diverter valve or a pairof two port diverter valves. The diverter valve(s) can also be motorizedand electrically communicative with a selector switch or a programmablecontroller. Alternatively, the diverter valve(s) can be a manual valveconnectable to a push-pull cable coupled to a mechanical switch.

The system can further include at least one supplementary watertreatment unit fluidly coupled to at least one of the water conduits andin series with the primary water treatment unit.

Instead of a pump, the means for pressurizing the water system can be ableed air port in the water tank that can receive bleed air from anaircraft engine. An auxiliary air compressor can be fluidly coupled tothe bleed air port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system schematic of an aircraft water distribution system ina fill mode according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a system schematic of the water distribution system shown inFIG. 1 in a supply mode.

FIG. 3 is a system schematic of an aircraft water distribution system ina fill mode according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a system schematic of the water distribution system shown inFIG. 3 in a supply mode.

FIG. 5 is a system schematic of an aircraft water distribution systemhaving two diverter valves in a fill mode according to a thirdembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a system schematic of the water distribution system shown inFIG. 5 with the diverter valves in a supply mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention and referring to FIGS. 1and 2, a water distribution system 10 is provided for treating water onan aircraft. While this embodiment is directed at use on aircraft, thewater treatment system 10 can readily be installed in otherapplications, and in particular, other vehicular applications.

Apparatus

The water treatment system 10 includes a water storage tank 12 and aprimary water treatment unit (“WTU”) 14 which can be used to treat wateras it is being loaded onto an aircraft during a fill operation (“fillmode”) of the storage tank 12, as well as being used to treat water asit is being delivered from the storage tank 12 to various points of usein the aircraft during a supply operation (“supply mode”). By using asingle primary WTU 14 for these two uses, cost and weight of the system10 are significantly reduced.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a series of conduits 16and valves 18, 20, 22, 23 which cooperate with the primary WTU 14 andstorage tank 12 to enable the primary WTU 14 to treat water in both fillmode and supply mode. The system 10 also includes a pump 24 coupled tothe conduits and which operates to pump water therethrough when in thesupply mode. The conduits 16 can be flexible hose or thin-walledstainless steel tubing.

A water fill port 26 is provided on a water service panel 28 of theaircraft. A first water conduit 16(a) extends from the fill port 26 to afour port fill valve 18 such as those commercially available from wellknown industry suppliers ITT, Sitec or Circle Seal. The fill valve 18 ismovable between two positions, namely a fill position and a supplyposition. In this embodiment, the fill valve 18 is motorized and iselectrically communicative with an electrical selector switch (notshown) which is controllable by an operator to move the fill valve 18between its two positions. Alternatively and not shown, the fill valve18 can be a four port manual valve actuated by a push-pull cable coupledto a mechanical switch.

The four port fill valve 18 has two bores isolated from each other, andthe valve 18 can be positioned so that each bore is in fluidcommunication with two dedicated ports. When the fill valve 18 is in thefill position, the first water conduit 16(a) fluidly communicates withone of the bores by coupling to one of the ports of that bore; the otherport of this bore fluidly couples to a second water conduit 16(b) whichin turn is fluidly coupled to a three port diverter valve 20 such asthose commercially available from well known industry suppliers ITT,Sitec or Circle Seal.

Like the fill valve 18, the diverter valve 20 is motorized and iselectrically communicative with an electrical switch operable by theoperator to move the diverter valve 20 between a fill position and asupply position. Alternatively, the diverter valve 20 can be manuallyoperated by a push-pull cable (not shown). The diverter valve 20 hasthree ports: a first port is fluidly coupled to the second water conduit16(b); a second port is fluidly coupled to a third water conduit 16(c)which in turn is fluidly coupled to an inlet of the primary WTU 14; anda third port is fluidly coupled to a point of water use supply conduit16(g) which is fluidly coupled to various points of use within theaircraft. When the diverter valve 20 is moved to the fill position, thefirst and second ports are fluidly interconnected such that there is afluid pathway between the second water conduit 16(b) and the third waterconduit 16(c), and the third port is not connected to either the firstor second ports such that the point of water use supply conduit 16(g) isblocked. When the diverter valve 20 is moved to the supply position, thesecond and third ports are fluidly interconnected such that there is afluid pathway between the third water conduit 16(c) and the point ofwater use supply conduit 16(g)) and the first port is not connected toeither the first or second ports such that the second water conduit16(b) is blocked.

The primary WTU 14 in this embodiment is an aircraft potable watertreatment unit, and can be for example, one of the water treatment unitscommercially available from International Water Guard Inc., such as theNPS-A2, NPS-A3, and NPS or IWG-A4 and NPS or IWG-A6. Depending on themodel, the primary WTU 14 can be fitted with an ultraviolet lamp modulefor ultraviolet light disinfection alone or the UV lamp module with anactivated carbon or sediment filter module for particulate filtration.The model selected will depend on flow rate required and whether thereis a need for UV disinfection alone or UV disinfection coupled withfiltration.

Water entering through the third water conduit 16(c) is treated by theprimary

WTU 14 and is discharged through an outlet that is fluidly coupled to afourth water conduit 16(d). This water conduit 16(d) extends from theprimary WTU 14 to a T-junction which fluidly connects the fourth waterconduit 16(d) to a supply water inlet of the storage tank 12 via a firstpathway, and to the pump 24 via a second pathway. A one way check valve23 in the second pathway prevents water flowing from the primary WTU 14to enter the pump 24 through the second pathway. A motorized isolationvalve 22, such as those commercially available from well known industrysuppliers ITT, Sitec or Circle Seal, in the first pathway is movablebetween an opened (fill) position and a closed (supply) position; thevalve 22 is in electrical communication with an electrical selectorswitch which can be operated by an operator to open and close theisolation valve 22. Alternatively, the isolation valve can be a manualor solenoid operated valve.

The pump 24 in this embodiment is a commercially available potable waterpump such as those provided by International Water Guard Inc. The pump24 can be a centrifugal stainless steel or specialty plastic pumpselected for the flow rate and pressure required. A spare pump (notshown) can be installed in the system 10 as a back-up. The pump iselectrically communicative with a switch (not shown) that is operable byan operator to control operation of the pump.

Alternatively, and not shown, the fill valve 18, diverter valve 20,isolation valve 22 and pump 24 can be electrically communicative with aprocessor or controller (not shown) which in turn can be programmed tomove the valves under certain specified conditions, or be operated by anoperator via an input device (not shown).

The storage tank 12 has a supply water outlet which is fluidly coupledto a pump supply conduit 16(e) which extends to and is fluidly coupledto a water inlet of the pump 24. The storage tank 12 size, form andconstruction will depend on the aircraft type, and suitable such tanksare readily available from numerous aircraft OEM suppliers.

The storage tank 12 also has a drain outlet near the top of the storagetank 12. A drain conduit 16(f) extends from the drain outlet and fluidlycouples with a port of the fill valve 18; this port is coupled to thesecond of the two bores in the fill valve 18 when the fill valve 18 isin the fill position. The second bore is also coupled to a drain port 31via drain port conduit 33 when the fill valve 18 is in the fillposition, thereby enabling water flowing out of the tank's drain outletto drain out of drain port 31.

The system 10 also includes conduits 16(g)-(i) that distribute waterfrom the storage tank 12 to various points of water use within theaircraft. FIGS. 1 and 2 show exemplary points of use, namely, forwardlavatories 32, forward galleys 34, middle lavatories 36, aft lavatories38, and aft galleys 40. The point of water use supply conduit 16(g)extends from the diverter valve 20 to a point of water use distributionconduit 16(h) that is fluidly coupled to each of the points of use 32,34, 36, 38, 40. Optionally, the point of water use distribution conduit16(h) is also fluidly coupled to a return conduit 16(i) which returnswater back to the storage tank 12 via a water recirculation inlet of thestorage tank 12. A flow restrictor 42 is installed on the return conduit16(i) immediately upstream of the water recirculation inlet of thestorage tank 12.

The system 10 can be typically installed in the aircraft underneath thecabin floor, but other locations may be appropriate for a given aircraftdesign. The conduits that distribute water to the various points of use32, 34, 36, 38, 40 are routed through the floor to the respective pointof water use.

Operation: Fill Mode

Referring now to FIG. 1, in fill mode operation, the fill valve 18 anddiverter valve 20 are set to their respective fill positions, and theisolation valve 22 is set to its open (fill) position. When the aircraftis on the ground, a water supply source (not shown, e.g. a water tanker)is fluidly coupled to the fill port 26 and supplies pressurized water tothe system 10. The water flows from the fill port 26 through the firstwater conduit 16(a), fill valve 18, second water conduit 16(b), divertervalve 20, third water conduit 16(c), and into the primary WTU 14. Thewater is treated in the primary WTU 14 and is then flowed through thefourth water conduit 16(d), isolation valve 22 and into the storage tank12. Water can be supplied to the system until the tank 12 is filled andwater drains from the tank 12 through the drain conduit 16(f), fillvalve 18 and out of the aircraft through the drain port 31.

The primary WTU 14 operates to treat the incoming water such that thewater is disinfected and optionally filtered before it reaches thestorage tank. Water treatment at this location is expected to reduce oreliminate the amount of biofilm growth in the storage tank 12, therebyreducing or eliminating the need to regularly clean the tank 12. Also,the treatment at this location in addition to treatment at the tankexit, which occurs during supply mode as will be described below,results in an overall disinfection and filtration that is higher thantreatment at tank exit alone.

Operation: Supply Mode

Referring now to FIG. 2, and during the supply mode, the fill valve 18and diverter valve 20 are set to their respective supply positions, andthe isolation valve 22 is set to its closed (supply) position. In thesupply position, the fill valve 18 has one bore fluidly connecting thedrain conduit 16(f) to the closed first port of the diverter valve 20,thereby effectively closing the drain conduit 16(f) from the drain port31. The second bore of the fill valve 18 connects the fill port 26 tothe drain port 31, effectively closing these two ports 26, 31 from therest of the system 10. In the supply position, the diverter valve 20fluidly couples the third water conduit 16(c) to the point of water usesupply conduit 16(g).

In operation, the pump 24 is activated and pumps water from the storagetank 12 with sufficient pressure to open the check valve 23. Water flowsfrom the tank 12, through the pump 24, check valve 23, fourth waterconduit 16(d) and into the primary WTU 14 (the isolation valve 22 beingclosed prevents water from returning to the storage tank 12). This wateris treated in the primary WTU 14 and discharged into the third waterconduit 16(c), through the diverter valve 20 and into the point of wateruse supply conduit 16(g). The water is then distributed via the point ofwater use distribution conduit 16(h) to each of the points of use 32,34, 36, 38, 40. Water not used by the points of use can flow back intothe storage tank through water return conduit 16(i). This featuresallows the pump 24 to operate continuously and provide a level ofcontinuous disinfection for the water stored in the tank 12.

Optional Features and Alternative Embodiments

Optionally, the system 10 can be provided with additional WTUs(“supplementary WTUs”, not shown) that treat water at other locations inthe system 10, such as in the aircraft galleys or lavatories, where theWTU's are located in fluid communication with the water lines beforereaching the water line outlet, which can typically be a faucet orcoffee maker or other water using device.

Optionally, the system 10 can be provided with multiple primary WTUs 14.More than one primary WTU may be required for larger aircraft, ordepending on the specified fill rate and UV dosage. In cases where morethan one WTU is required, the primary WTUs can be arranged either inseries or in parallel, and located between the diverter valve 20 and thestorage tank 12.

Optionally, the system 10 can be provided with a water circulationsub-system in which all of the points of use 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 aresupplied by a water loop that extends throughout the aircraft andreturns to the storage tank 12; an example of such a sub-system is theCirculating Water Potable Water System (C-PWS™) supplied byInternational Water Guard.

Alternatively, the system 10 can be provided without a pump. In suchcase, the system operates by pressurizing the water in the storage tank12 with bleed air from the aircraft engines, which in some cases areassisted with an auxiliary air compressor, or with other known means forpressurizing the water. According to a second embodiment and referringto FIGS. 3 and 4 a simpler water treatment system is provided which ispumpless, and which uses a single water conduit 50 to connect theprimary WTU 14 to the storage tank 12. In operation, the bleed air orother water pressurizing means is used to supply water out of thissingle water conduit 50 to the primary WTU 14 and through the divertervalve 20 to the various points of water use (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4)The bleed air is fed through a bleed air line (not shown) connected tothe system through a port 25 in the pressurized water storage tank. Whenan auxiliary air compressor is installed on an aircraft, it too isconnected to the system through the same port in the pressurized waterstorage tank. When in fill mode, water is supplied to the storage tank12 thorough the same water conduit 50; overflow water drains out of thestorage tank 12 via drain conduit 16(f) to a drain port (not shown) inthe same manner as described in the first embodiment.

According to a third embodiment and referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, thesystem 10 can be provided with a pair of two-port diverter valvesinstead of a single three port diverter valve as present in the firsttwo embodiments. A first two-port diverter valve 20(a) is fluidlycoupled to second water conduit 16(b) and a second two-port divertervalve 20(b) is fluidly coupled to point of water use supply conduit16(g). When in a fill mode, the first two port diverter valve 20(a) isset to an opened position and the second two port diverter valve 20(b)is set to a closed position such that water is flowable from the fillport 26 through the fill valve 18, through the first two port divertervalve 20(a) and to the water treatment unit 14 and tank 12; the secondtwo port diverter valve 20(b) prevents water from flowing to the pointof water use devices. When in a supply mode, the first two port divertervalve 20(a) is in a closed position and the second two port divertervalve 20(b) is in an opened position such that water from the tank 12can be pumped by pump 24 through the WTU 14, through the second two portdiverter valve and to the points of water use; the closed first two portdiverter valve 20(a) prevents this water from flowing to the fill port26.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention has been described, itwill be appreciated that various changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water distribution system comprising: a waterstorage tank; a primary water treatment unit; at least one divertervalve; water conduits fluidly coupling a fill port to the divertervalve, fluidly coupling the diverter valve to the primary watertreatment unit, coupling the primary water treatment unit to the storagetank, and fluidly coupling the diverter valve to at least one point ofwater use device; and means for pressurizing water in fluidcommunication with the storage tank; the at least one diverter valvecomprising a three port valve being movable between a fill positionwherein the primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication withthe fill port through the three port valve and not in fluidcommunication with the point of water use device, and a supply positionwherein the primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication withthe at least one point of water use device through the three port valveand not in fluid communication with the fill port.
 2. A waterdistribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forpressurizing water is a pump.
 3. A water distribution system as claimedin claim 2 further comprising an isolation valve fluidly coupled to thefluid conduit fluidly coupling the primary water treatment unit to thestorage tank and movable between a fill position in which fluid isflowable through the isolation valve, and a supply position in whichwater is not flowable through the isolation valve.
 4. A waterdistribution system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the water conduitsfurther comprise a water conduit having a one way valve and fluidlycoupling the pump to the primary water treatment unit, the one way valvepositioned to allow fluid to flow from the pump to the primary watertreatment unit only, such that when the diverter valve and isolationvalve are in the supply position the pump is operable to flow water fromthe storage tank through the primary water treatment unit and to the atleast one point of use device.
 5. A water distribution system as claimedin claim 3, wherein the isolation valve is motorized and electricallycommunicative with a selector switch or a programmable controller.
 6. Awater distribution system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the isolationvalve is a manual or solenoid operated valve.
 7. A water distributionsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diverter valve is motorizedand electrically communicative with a selector switch or a programmablecontroller.
 8. A water distribution system as claimed in claim 1,further comprising multiple primary water treatment units fluidlycoupled in series to at least one of the water conduits.
 9. A waterdistribution system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at leastone supplemental water treatment unit fluidly coupled to the waterconduits in the vicinity of at least one point of water use device. 10.A water distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primarywater treatment unit comprises an ultraviolet lamp module.
 11. A waterdistribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water conduitsfurther comprise a water return conduit having a flow restrictor, andfluidly coupled to the at least one point of water use device and to thestorage tank.
 12. A water distribution system comprising: a waterstorage tank; a primary water treatment unit; at least one divertervalve; water conduits fluidly coupling a fill port to the divertervalve, fluidly coupling the diverter valve to the primary watertreatment unit, coupling the primary water treatment unit to the storagetank, and fluidly coupling the diverter valve to at least one point ofwater use device; means for pressurizing water in fluid communicationwith the storage tank; and a four port fill valve and a water drainconduit fluidly coupling the storage tank to the fill valve, the atleast one diverter valve being movable between a fill position whereinthe primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the fillport and not the point of water use device, and a supply positionwherein the primary water treatment unit is in fluid communication withthe at least one point of water use device and not the fill port, thefill valve having two bores and being movable between a fill positionwherein a first bore is in fluid communication with the water conduitfluidly coupling the fill port to the diverter valve and a second boreis in fluid communication with a drain port and the storage tank via thedrain conduit, and a supply position wherein the fill and drain portsare not in fluid communication with the system.
 13. A water distributionsystem as claimed in claim 12, wherein the diverter valve is a singlethree port diverter valve or a pair of two port diverter valves.
 14. Awater distribution system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fill valveis motorized and electrically communicative with a selector switch or aprogrammable controller.
 15. A water distribution system as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the fill valve is a four port manual valve connectableto a push-pull cable coupled to a mechanical switch.
 16. A waterdistribution system comprising: a water storage tank; a primary watertreatment unit; at least one diverter valve comprising a manual valveconnectable to a push-pull cable coupled to a mechanical switch; waterconduits fluidly coupling a fill port to the diverter valve, fluidlycoupling the diverter valve to the primary water treatment unit,coupling the primary water treatment unit to the storage tank, andfluidly coupling the diverter valve to at least one point of water usedevice; and means for pressurizing water in fluid communication with thestorage tank, the at least one diverter valve being movable between afill position wherein the primary water treatment unit is in fluidcommunication with the fill port and not the point of water use device,and a supply position wherein the primary water treatment unit is influid communication with the at least one point of water use device andnot the fill port.
 17. A water distribution system comprising: a waterstorage tank; a primary water treatment unit; at least one divertervalve comprising; water conduits fluidly coupling a fill port to thediverter valve, fluidly coupling the diverter valve to the primary watertreatment unit, coupling the primary water treatment unit to the storagetank, and fluidly coupling the diverter valve to at least one point ofwater use device; and means for pressurizing water in fluidcommunication with the storage tank, wherein the means for pressurizingis a bleed air port in the storage tank and connectable to a bleed airline to receive bleed air from an aircraft engine, the at least onediverter valve being movable between a fill position wherein the primarywater treatment unit is in fluid communication with the fill port andnot the point of water use device, and a supply position wherein theprimary water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the at leastone point of water use device and not the fill port.
 18. A waterdistribution system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means forpressurizing further comprises an auxiliary air compressor fluidlycoupled to the bleed air port.
 19. A water distribution system asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the primary water treatment unit furthercomprises an activated carbon or sediment filter module.